Microsoft Surface Pro 2017 versus HP x2 Spectre 2017– shootout

And the winner is – sorry, you will have to read the article to find out. But HP’s new x2 Spectre raises the bar in some areas, as does Microsoft’s Surface Pro 2017.

The purpose of a shootout is to objectively measure, “Apples for Apples” and declare a winner. Spoiler alert: they may look similar and do a similar job, but I suspect both have slightly different markets — enterprise and consumer/small business — in mind.

The real hybrid, two-in-one, tablet and detachable keyboard device started showing up around 2012 with the Surface RT.

But for more than 30 years, manufacturers have been trying to achieve the same — maximum compute power in a minimum size — Bondwell, Toshiba, IBM, Osborne, to name a few. All that held them back was the available technology.

Well, today you have devices that are 7-8mm thin, weigh under 1kg, and have enough compute power to send a man to the moon thousands of times.

The real question is has the hybrid market proven itself as a thoroughly useful computing device that fills a real need? The answer is yes!

First, we need to compare specifications – boring, but necessary.

Microsoft Surface Pro 2017

HP x2 Spectre 2017

Model

M3-7Y30 1-2.6GHz, Intel HD Graphics 615

i5-7300U 2.6-3.5GHz Intel HD Graphics 620

i7-7660U 2.4-4GHz Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640

N/A

i5-7260U Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640

i7-7560U Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640

Surface offers the lower cost and the lower powered m3 may be useful in some circumstances but the sweet spot is i5 and for power users the i7. Winner: draw

Display

12.3”, 2736 x 1824, 267ppi, PixelSense, 3:2 aspect

Edge-to-edge glass, 10-point touch

Supports a wide DCI-P3 colour gamut

N-Trig digitiser

Pixel Sense controller hardware acceleration, touch, and Dial

12.3”, 3000 x 2000, IPS WLED (included White LED backlight plus RGB)

Edge-to-edge glass, 10-point touch

x2 has more pixels and the WhiteLED backlight gives a whiter but cooler colour. However, the Surface PixelSense secret sauce (hardware acceleration) and its sRGB/Enhanced colour profiles put it ahead, Winner: Surface by a nit

Processor

Review unit

Intel Core i7-7600U, 2.2/3.4GHz, 2 core/4 thread

Core m3 and i5 are fan-less

Review: Intel Core i5-7260U, 2.2/3.4GHz, 2 core/4 thread

Also i7-7560U, 2.4/3.8Ghz

Both with fan

Surface is slightly faster using higher specified CPU but it is much of a muchness. I like the m3 – so don’t write it off. The x2 did get hotter under load. Winner: Surface

Graphics

Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640

Supports 3840 x 2160 external display or two via DP daisy chain

Same

While both use the same GPU the Surface offers colour temperature adjustment but the x2 has the harder to use Intel HD Control panel and it offers similar control. Winner: draw

RAM

8-16GB, DDR3L-1600

8-16GB-LPDDR3-1866

Both use older DDR3L (low power) and that is because of shortages in DDR4LP. The x2 is slightly faster. Winner: x2

SSD

128/256/512GB and 1TB, PCIe, NVMe, M.2

256/512GB SSD, PCIe, NVMe, M.2

Both use very fast PCIe NVMe, M.2 but only the Surface has a 1TB option, But with microSD support so who cares. Winner: draw

The Surface is more flexible sans a dock – mini-DisplayPort, full USB-A and ribbon charger. While the 2 x USB-C are good Surface is slightly ahead in normal use. Winner: Surface by a nose although x2's 2 x USB-C is tempting but you need dongles.

LTE

Will be available on m3 and i5 models

N/A

Due to the way Australian Telcos charge for data this may or may not be advantage – of course, you can always log into Telstra Air or use your smartphone hotspot. Winner: Surface if you need this

Dimensions

292.1 x 201.42 x 8.5 mm (tablet)

293.9 x 207.1 x 7.7 mm (tablet)

Winner: draw

Weight

768/770/784g coreM2/i5/i7

plus keyboard 310g

760g

plus keyboard 370g

Winner: draw

Chassis

Uni-body machined magnesium alloy

Uni-body machined alloy (unspecified)

Both are extremely well made. X2 looks better. Winner: draw

Battery

45 WHr

Claimed up to 13.5 hours

TI Quick Charge circuit

41.58 WHr

Claimed up to 8 hours

Quick charge circuit

Surface has an indefatigable battery and like x2 has a fast charge circuit. If you travel a lot, the extra 4-6 hours is invaluable. Winner: Surface by half a day

Charger

65W includes 12V/2.58A and 5V/1A USB charge port

65W - 5V-9V/3A, 10-12V/5A, 19/4.33A, 20V/3.25A

While I suspect x2 has better fast charging, the addition of a USB 5V/1A port on the Surface brick is a lifesaver. Winner: Surface by a port

Based on specifications the HP would blitz this category but in practice, Surface took better shots in good and low light. The key was the larger 1.4 µm pixels and probably a faster lens. Winner: Surface

OS

Windows 10 Pro

Windows 10 Home

If you are a corporate user you will want Pro to join domains etc. Winner: Surface

It is all “bloatware” and Surface has much less – it is cleaner. In any case, do a factory reset and wipe out bloatware and install what you want from the support site. Winner: Surface

Warranty

1-year return to base

1-year on-site swap

On-site is very compelling even if it's just a swap. The Surface has that as an option. Winner: x2

Price

Retail pricing is as follows (plus a keyboard $200/250 and pen – TBA but assume around $150)

· Core m2, 4/128GB $1,199

· Core i5, 4/128GB $1,499

· Core i5, 8/256GB $1,999

· Core i7, 8/256GB $2499

· Core i7, 16/512GB $3,299

· Core i7, 16GB/1TB $3,999

JB Hi-Fi prices (RRP/current special price to 26 July)

· N/A

· N/A

· Core i5, 8/256GB, $2198/1868.30

· N/A

· Core i7, 16/512GB, $2798/2378.30

· N/A

Cost is always an issue. Remembering that Surface requires the pen and keyboard at $350/400 extra, the x2 is a clear price leader especially if you grab a bargain before 26 July. Winner: x2 by a long way

So that covers all the technical aspects. What would I want and buy?

To be fair I should have reviewed the HP x2 EliteBook against the Surface Pro as it is a commercial product too.

The HP x2 Spectre i5 or i7 version on special at JB would tempt me – no questions. It does everything the Surface does except there is a niggling doubt that the Surface is better in corporate use e.g. TPM security, battery, and colour presets.

There is no way you could be disappointed if either the Spectre x2 2017 or the Surface Pro 2017 turned up under the Xmas tree.

And the winner is:

The subjective winner for consumer and small business is HP x2 Spectre in its i7, 16/256GB guise, very nice dark ash and copper finish and price. OK and perhaps I am being shallow here it looks great too so the heart can rule the head.

The objective winner for corporate use is the Surface for its battery life, PixelSense screen, and TPM chip – it just does it so well.

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Ray Shaw ray@im.com.au has a passion for IT ever since building his first computer in 1980. He is a qualified journalist, hosted a consumer IT based radio program on ABC radio for 10 years, has developed world leading software for the events industry and is smart enough to no longer own a retail computer store!